Lacing-blank.



No. 659,849. Patented 001:. I6, I900.

H. L. HILLEB.

LAGING BLANK.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Ila ITIED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

uueo L. HILLER, onnnw YORK, N. Y.

LAC-lNG-BLAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,849, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed November 28, 1899. Lierial No. 73 8,521. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it ntmy concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGO L. HILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Manhattan, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lacing-Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to an improvement in blanks for lacings, such as shoe or corset lacings, in which the blank is wound for a portion of its length intermediate its ends by a suitable winding-thread, so as to form a lacing tip or tips when the blank is severed.

One object of my invention is to provide a wound port-ion, as above described, which will be prevented from unwinding when it is severed intermediate its ends.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lacing-tip of the above character, so as to do entirely away with the use of a metallic tip of any kind, the said thread-wound tip being composed of a thread of substantially the same color or of another color, as may be desired.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a lacing-blank, showing a lock-thread-wound portion intermediate its ends before the said portion is severed to form a pair of lacing-tips, the said view also representing a completed lacing-tip at one end of the blank. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the wound portion of the blank. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner of forming the locked wind, so as to prevent the unwinding of the thread when the wound portion is severed. Fig. 4. represents a view of a lacing-blank, showing another way of locking the wound portions there of, which consists in stitching acontinuouslywound thread; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the wound portion of the blank shown in Fig. 4. v

The lacing-blank is denoted by A, and it may consist of a ribbon or cord, either braided or woven and of any suitable Width or size and color.

The lacing-blank is preferably a continuous ribbon from which are formed a plurality of completed lacings for use either for shoes,

corsets, or other purposes for which such lacings would be useful.

The lacing-blank A is wound very tightly for a portion of its length intermediate its ends by a thread B, which thread may be of a color to correspond with the color of the lacing-blank or of another color, it so desired, so as to form a contrast to the body of the lacing when the lacing is completed. This thread is wound so tightly around the blank as to form a very rigid portion. The wound portion of the blank is preferably severed at a point intermediate its ends to form one lacing-tip upon the end of the completed lacing and another lacing-tip upon one end of the blank.

The thread-wound-tip portion of the blank may be locked in different ways to prevent the thread from unwinding when it is severed. In Figs. 1 and I have shown the thread locked against unwinding by looping the thread upon the blank by means of a succession of half-hitches, and in Fig. 4 I have shown the thread as being continuously wound around the blank for the required distance and the thread held against unwinding by a lock-thread O, stitched through the thread and blank. When the thread is applied to the blank by a succession of halfhitches, it may be done by hand; but in practice I employ a machine which applies the half-hitches while the blank is held distended, the ridge formed at the point where one part of the thread passes under a preceding portion, as shown in Fig. 3, naturally assuming a spiral form as the successive turns of the thread are laid in close juxtaposition. The particular machine which I employ to form the half-hitches during the winding forms no part of my present invention, the subject-matter of the present invention being limited to the product. Both of these devices for preventing the unwinding of the threadwound portion when severed will not permit a thread to unravel more than one ofits winds.

The completed lacing with its ends provided with thread-wound tips presents a far neater appearance than the old form of wire or metal tips. The thread-wound tips will keep their color, will not come off, and will not become rusty or discolored. The threadwound tips also produce very rigid ends to the lacing, permitting it to be readily, laced through eyelets.

To render the thread-Wound tips of the lacing even stiffer, they may be immersed in a stiffening liquid-snch, for instance, as shellacif so desired. 1

While I have shown two ways of locking the thread against unwinding, it is to be unways of so doing, and it is also to be nnder stood that the tips may be made longer or shorter and that other changes might be resorted to in the construction ofthe same. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

What I claim is 1. A lacing-blank having intermediate its ends, a thread-wound portion, the winds of the thread being locked to prevent the unwinding of the thread-Wound portion and severed, to form lacing-tips, the said threadwonnd portion comprising a series of halfhitches-i for locking the thread against 11n- Winding When the wound portion is severed,

substantially as set forth. derstood that there may be a number-of other 3. A lacing having thread-wound tips provided with means for preventing unwinding of the thread, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 16th day of November, 1899.

HUGO L. HILLER.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, C. S. SUNDGREN. 

